Sicily

The region of Sicily is an integral part of Italy and is at the same time its largest island followed, in size, by Sardinia. Its enormous territory makes it the largest region in Italy, while its particular geographical configuration, characterized by three promontories overlooking the sea, has earned it the nickname of "Trinacria". The heraldic symbol of the Trinacria depicting a female head with three bent legs is in fact reported even in the official coat of arms of the region.

Sicily encloses a varied territory, where mountain peaks alternate with wide hills, flat landscapes, up to cliffs overhanging the sea shaped by the wind and sandy beaches bathed by crystal clear waters. Who would have ever said that among the highest peaks of Sicily there would be a volcano? Etna, the highest active volcano in Europe and Asia, rises not far from Catania and offers a scenery of rare beauty, especially in winter, when its slopes are covered with snow.

But Sicily is not limited to its main island, as the region also includes archipelagos of smaller islands, but not of inferior beauty, including the Aeolian Islands, Ustica Island to the north, the archipelago of the Egadi Islands to the west - which include Favignana, Levanzo and Marettimo, some of the most popular seaside destinations for travelers from around the world - for the island of Pantelleria and the Pelagie Islands to the south.

The history of Sicily is a succession of dominations of different peoples and cultures, each of which has left its mark in monuments and cities full of history with evocative views. If on the one hand the ruins of ancient temples in the areas of Agrigento and Selinunte, a few steps from the blue sea, are witnesses of Greek and then Roman domination in the region, on the other hand, cities like Palermo, with its monumental Cathedral or the Castle of Maredolce, but also Syracuse and Monreale tell the story of the Arab-Norman period of the region. But Sicily is also the theater of Baroque masterpieces. The historic center of some of the monumental baroque cities of the Val di Noto is in fact so rich in beauty that it has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The result of such a mixture of cultures, territories and influences is reflected in a unique region, rich in popular, culinary and artisan traditions, with a colorful and lively lifestyle, all to be discovered.